8 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2016
Local
Public Arts Commission to
address City Council
BY GINA K. SWARTZ
Gina@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Tuesday evening the
Public Arts Committee met
in Council Chambers at
City Hall.
On the agenda for the
evening was discussing the
vinyl wrap project and the
Master Plan.
Present were Brian and
Corrine Vegter, Derek
Hosler, Mary Miller, Chair
Ann Mehaffy and City
Staff representative Mike
Kee.
As the meeting was
preparing to convene Brian
Vegter entered the room
with a painting. “We are
redecorating and thought it
would be nice to have this
piece as part of the series
here,” he said.
The painting is one of
several created by local
artist Alyssa Peterson de-
picting children playing at
Geiser-Pollman Park.
Three already hang in
City Hall.
Brian and Corrine Veg-
ter’s donation will enhance
the City Hall collection.
“Wow, thank you,” said
Kee followed by Mehaffy
saying, “That is fantastic.”
Mehaffy called the
meeting to order calling
first for an approval of
minutes from the last two
meetings.
Kee informed the com-
mittee he had to amended
minutes from the Decem-
ber meeting due to an
error.
Several members advised
they had not had a chance
to read the corrected min-
utes or the minutes from
the January meeting so a
quick moment was taken
to review those before they
all voted in agreement to
accept those minutes.
Mehaffy passed around
a “Thank You” card for ev-
eryone to sign for Natural
Structures thanking them
for the amenities at the end
of the Leo Adler Memorial
Pathway “Launch Park.”
Kee picked up on what
Mehaffy called the site
and said he really liked
Winery
CONTINUED FROM
PAGE 5
She asked if there were
any challenges to the
jurisdiction of the Com-
mission to hear the matter,
and none were stated. She
asked if there were any
conflicts of interest, or
biases to be claimed by
any Commission member,
and Hoopes stated that
her name was throughout
the original 2007 applica-
tion, but she didn’t think
there would be any issues.
Trindle also said that she
is Executive Director of
the Eastern Oregon Visi-
tors Association, but that
she didn’t feel that would
cause any conflicts.
Quam, using the Smart
Board, displayed, and
explained details regarding
the application, the parcel
location which is described
as around 235 acres, Tax
Lot 2400 in Township
8 South, Range 4 East,
W.M., Baker County, OR
(Ref. 7557). The address
is stated as 45714 Cook
Road, northeast of Baker
City, in the Keating Valley
area.
According to documenta-
tion, “The applicants cur-
Gina K. Swartz / The Baker County Press
Brian and Corrine Vegter pose with the Alyssa Peterson painting to be donated
to the City.
that and would mention it
as a name the City could
officially use for the site
rather than just the “LAMP
extension.”
The first item on the
agenda was a discussion
and update on the Vinyl
Wrap project.
Kee read an email he
had sent to an Oregon
Department of Transporta-
tion (ODOT) employee,
following up on samples
of the vinyl material the
committee is suggesting
be used and the response
that he received stating this
ODOT employee was do-
ing some further research
on the product and other
products available reaching
out to manufacturers with
questions and concerns and
would be back in touch
by the end of February or
early March.
Mehaffy said that since
they were waiting on
ODOT there wasn’t much
more to discuss or move
forward with at this time.
It was suggested that
perhaps a call to artist was
needed to get an idea of
artwork that could be used
however no actual loca-
tions have been determined
for the wraps therefore
actual dimensions for art-
work was not known.
The committee also
addressed that money
would be needed either by
way of budget, fundrais-
ing or solicitation of local
service organizations such
as Kiwanas, Soroptimists
or Lions for sponsorship.
Without the committee
predetermining what the
pay for artwork would be
coupled with the dimen-
sions of boxes wanting
to be wrapped those were
obstacles seeking funding
the project.
Kee suggested the Com-
mittee make a presenta-
tion to the City Council to
garner their support for the
project as a way to help
secure funding as well.
It was agreed that at an
upcoming City Council
meeting, tentatively the
March 8 meeting, the com-
mittee would put together a
presentation, including the
idea of the public art loan
by local artist.
By putting together a
presentation it would also
give the committee an
opportunity to discuss pay-
ment to the artists for vinyl
wrap art as well as secure
the locations most impor-
tant to them.
They committee then
turned its attention to the
Master Plan that is being
developed.
Julie Smith, Manage-
ment Assistant and IT
Coordinator for Baker City
has put together a draft
plan for the committee to
look at that was as several
members of the committee
said, “Very impressive.”
The committee briefly
went over the plan and
agreed to each take it home
with them and submit ideas
or changes to Kee who
would pass the informa-
tion onto Smith who could
revise the plan until it
was how the committee
envisioned.
It was also mentioned
that City Council be
advised of the Master Plan
being developed so they
are aware that approval of
this plan will be coming
before them in the near
future and that in efforts
to “sell” them on the
vinyl wrap and art on loan
projects they can see the
committee has vision.
The Public Arts Commis-
sion meets at City Hall in
Council Chambers the first
Tuesday of every month at
5:30 p.m.
All Baker City citizens
are invited and encour-
aged to attend these public
meetings.
rently operate an existing
vineyard and processing
facility less than three
miles north of the pro-
posed site, which will be
closed due to the terms
of the leasing agreement.
The proposed location is
currently used as rangeland
for cattle, and as the site
of a mobile dwelling, and
hay storage. The vineyard
will replace a portion of
the land used for cattle
grazing. The size of the
vineyard in the new loca-
tion has yet to be deter-
mined, but will be less than
15 acres. The vineyard will
increase the annual yield to
5,000 cases of wine (which
will total close to 12,000
gallons).
“Keating Valley Vineyard
Service, LLC provides
several acres of vines
for the property owners
in Richland, OR. These
vines will be managed by
Keating Valley Vineyard
Service, LLC, and the
grapes will be processed
at the new facility. The
eventual goal of the wine
processing facility is to
use a blend of grapes they
grow in Richland, OR, and
form their estate vineyards.
The processing facility
and tasting room will be
sited in place of the mobile
dwelling, and will be no
larger than 10,000 sq. ft.”
The Cooks, who are the
applicants, and property
owners, and Brown, Senior
Ecologist with Farallon
Consulting, discussed
details of the request with
the Commission. Brown
referenced court cases,
and legislation to explain
that this type of operation
is an accepted Farm Use
practice.
The applicants discussed
the issue of vehicle traffic,
which is a consideration
regarding the application,
but they explained that it
would be rare to see over
50 vehicles a day.
There was discussion, and
confusion regarding the is-
sue of Exclusive Farm Use
(EFU) zones, and whether
the application clearly
stated that, and commer-
cial activity in conjunction
with EFU.
Discussion also included
how many people the
facility could accommo-
date, and the applicants
explained that the garage
door, similar to the one in
Barley’s Taphouse in Bak-
er City, could be opened
to allow more room for
guests. An estimate of
Mike’s was possibly up to
100 individuals.
Mike said there would
be some sort of signage,
and Cathy said the hours of
operation should generally
be 12-8 p.m. When asked
by Joseph about the pos-
sibility of producing 1,000
gallons of wine per acre,
Mike said that actually, the
production would be 1,000
gallons of juice.
Two attendees testified
in favor of the applica-
tion, Miller, and Bradford.
Miller said that more
diverse agriculture would
be great for Baker County,
and that he didn’t see any
issues with vehicle traffic,
or other effects. Bradford
echoed that she didn’t
see any issues with the
proposal.
With a motion from
Joseph, and a second from
Hoopes, the application
was unanimously ap-
proved, with some changes
to language in the Condi-
tions Of Approval.
The following paragraph
denotes changes in paren-
theses: “The processing
facility shall not exceed
10,000 sq. ft. Within the
first five years after the
conditional use applica-
tion is approved, 25% of
the grapes processed must
come from onsite (changed
to “the owner’s farm“),
and six acres (changed to
“three acres“) of grapes
must be planted.”
Nominations open for
Peggi Timm award
If you are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization within
Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative’s (OTEC) 4-county
service territory, it is time to bring your dedicated female
volunteers into the Eastern Oregon limelight and send in
your nominations for the 2016 Peggi Timm Civic Leader-
ship Award.
The Legacy
Long time eastern Oregon resident, Peggi Timm, was
the driving force behind the creation of OTEC, serving as
the first President of its Board of Directors. Peggi served
numerous roles on the Board and in the greater electric
cooperative community, receiving the Northwest Public
Power Association Award for Outstanding Public Service
in 2009, and won the White Rose Award from the Oregon
March of Dimes for women who have made a significant
impact on their communities.
Peggi was named “Baker Woman of the Year” three
times and served as Baker County Treasurer and as a
City Councilor. The former President of the Oregon Trail
Regional Museum, she was appointed by the US Depart-
ment of the Interior to the National Advisory Board for
the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center.
Peggi Timm passed away in 2013.
The Award
The 2016 Peggi Timm Civic Leadership Award will be
awarded to a woman residing in OTEC’s service terri-
tory who most exemplifies Peggi’s ceaseless spirit of
volunteerism. Emphasis will be placed upon recognizing
individuals who have led in the creation, revitalization,
and success of local organizations and institutions.
OTEC will contribute $25,000 to a qualified 501(c)(3)
non-profit organization chosen by the recipient. The bene-
ficiary must be based within the four counties of OTEC’s
service territory (Baker, Grant, Harney and Union). The
award will be funded through OTEC’s unclaimed capital
credit account.
The Process
Nomination forms are available online at www.otecc.
com in the “Community” tab and should be submitted to
OTEC’s Manager of Public Relations and Government
Affairs Lara Petitclerc-Stokes by 5 p.m., Wednesday,
April 1, 2016. Nominations may be made by an individ-
ual or group who wishes to acknowledge the work of the
nominee or by the nominee themselves. Selection of the
recipient will be made by the OTEC Board of Directors at
the April Board Meeting.
This year’s award winner will be announced at the
OTEC 2016 Annual Meeting, taking place on Saturday,
April 30 at the Baker County Events Center (2600 East
Street, Baker City, OR).
Lions Club
collecting glasses,
hearing aids
Eye glasses and hearing aids can change people's lives.
Used ones are too valuable to throw away, but not of
much use when your vision or hearing needs change.
The Baker City Lions Club collects used glasses and
hearing aids so they can be distributed to people who
need them. Prescription glasses, reading glasses and sun
glasses are all accepted.
The local club is asking anyone with unused glasses or
hearing aids to place them in the bright yellow containers
marked with the purple Lions Club logo at the following
locations:
Baker Vision Clinic, Ryder Brothers, TEC Copier
Systems, St. Luke’s EOMA Clinic, St. Alphonsus Medi-
cal Center, Meadowbrook, Settlers Park, Eagle Optical,
Elks Club, Baker City Hall, Community Bank, Sunridge,
OTEC, and the Dist. 5J Schools and District Office
Lions members will pick up donated items from these
sites by February 22. With increased public awareness of
the project, the Lions hope to collect over 1,000 pairs of
glasses this year.
The club also accepts cash donations to help local
residents with vision or hearing needs and conducts vi-
sion screenings in local schools.
Trucker dies
chaining up near
North Powder
On January 31, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. a fatal crash occurred
on I-84 Westbound near milepost (MP) 281 near North
Powder.
The preliminary investigation indicated Mr. Igor S.
Nikolaychuk, age 50, and from Vancouver, Washington
was outside his semi-tractor/trailer in the process of
chaining up near the left rear axle of the trailer. Ms. Mck-
enna Hamilton, age 21, from Star, Idaho was operating a
2007 Cadillac westbound when the vehicle began to slide
sideways on the highway.
The driver's side front bumper struck Mr. Nikolaychuk,
pushed him underneath the trailer, and he was pro-
nounced deceased at the scene.
At the time of the crash, the roads were icy and it was
foggy. The visibility had been reduced to <1/4 of a mile
due to the fog. Ms. Hamilton was wearing her safety belt
and the driver's side air bag deployed. The highway was
reduced to one lane but remained open for travel.
OSP was assisted by ODOT, Union County Sheriff's
Office, Baker County Sheriff's Office, and North Powder
Rural Fire.